The John Mayer Effect

Brett Ratner (right, with Scott Caan)

Why we like him anyway: Throws slammin' parties. For evidence, see Hilhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures, starring the likes of Gina Gershon, Salma Hayek, Estella Warren—even Mickey Rourke. We're just outside the frame, we swear.

Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

John Mayer

Claim to fame: Making Dave Matthews sound like Pavement

Why we like him anyway: Actually a legitimately funny and self-aware guy (remember that "Bittersweet" video he did with Kanye back in '04?)—especially when it comes to fame, with all its contradictions and, ahem, perks.

Photo: James Devaney/WireImage

Gordon Ramsay

Claim to fame: Failing to conquer America with fussy, overpriced, and underportioned duplicates of dishes served in his many London restaurants.

Why we like him anyway: On Hell's Kitchen, gleefully—and entertainingly—crushes the dreams of those who aspire to one day conquer America with their own overpriced and underportioned fare.

Photo: Greg Gayne/FOX

Sean "Puffy-Diddy" Combs

Claim to fame: Rhyming on the shoulders of giants; changing name.

Why we like him anyway: Blithely conquering new arenas he has no business in. E.g., transforming a line of tracksuits into a $500-million fashion empire; that reported $100-million deal with Cîroc vodka; Diddy Runs the City (and say what you want, but the guy actually finished the marathon).

Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Bryan Adams

Claim to fame: Soundtracking our eighties teen years with sentimental dreck like "Summer of '69"; soundtracking our nineties postcollege years with sentimental dreck like "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You."

Why we like him anyway: Guy's not bad with a camera. American Women, his photo book of influential American ladies—from Lauren Hutton to Hilary Swank—is surprisingly great (though, dude, where's Ruth Bader Ginsburg?).

Photo: Getty Images

Damien Hirst

Claim to fame: Preserving dead animals in formaldehyde (The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living) or encouraging them to rot (A Thousand Years). Also pioneered fondly remembered medicine-chest-as-art movement.

Why we like him anyway: Had the best nineties ever. Drinking, drugging, and shagging at will, even accidentally writing a wildly popular football anthem ("Vindaloo"). Seems to be having similar fun this decade as well. Also auctions off works worth tens of millions for charity, which is super-nice.

Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Brad Pitt

Claim to fame: On-screen performances that oscillate between phoned in (see Ocean's 12) and overwrought (see Babel, that unintentionally hilarious last scene in Se7en).

Why we like him anyway: Looks pretty great in Tom Ford. Actually gives a shit about the less fortunate. (And dresses well doing that, too.)